In early January Superintendent of Schools Dr. Margaret Smith announced that, amid budget cuts, the venue and scale of the annual banquet to honor Volusia County teachers would be downsized or eliminated. However, on January 30th The Chamber joined forces with FUTURES to revive the 2008 Teacher of the Year Award.

The Chamber would like to congratulate all of the finalists for this most prestigious award including: Catherine Diance Clow, Campbell Middle School; Kelly Anne Conway, New Smyrna Beach High School; Margaret A. Crayne, Freedom Elementary School; Alicia Douglas, Manatee Cove Elementary School; Becky Pittard, Pine Trail Elementary School; and Joshua P. Platt, Spruce Creek High School.

The FUTURES Foundation-Halifax Area Chamber Teacher of the Year Celebration began with a private reception for the 70 individual Teachers of the Year candidates and their spouses. Teachers were then joined by family, members of the Volusia County Schools community, and sponsors for the naming of this year’s Volusia County Schools Teacher of the Year.

Chamber President Larry McKinney observed that quality education is vital to the economic success of Volusia County. “We are very pleased to partner with FUTURES and recognize the individuals who impact our children so positively. The future of Volusia County is dependent on an excellent school system that delivers an excellent work force. We’re proud of our children, our administration and the teachers that make it happen every day.”

“FUTURES has been a sponsor and supporter of the Teacher of the Year event for more than 20 years,” said Mike Manning, President of the Board for FUTURES. “Supporting and recognizing teachers is at the heart of our foundation’s mission and we were pleased to partner with the Halifax Area Chamber to continue this annual celebration of our hard-working and deserving teachers.”

Thank you to the sponsors of this year's Teacher of the Year celebration: Bethune-Cookman University, Consolidated Tomoka Land Co., Daytona Beach Coca-Cola, Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, Daytona International Speedway, Daytona Beach Kiwanis, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Dean Stewart Photography, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida Power & Light, USTA Florida, Jostens, Halifax Health, Hotel & Lodging Association of Volusia County, Lamar Outdoor Advertising, Lohman Funeral Homes, Kennedy Space Center Federal Credit Union, Rice & Rose, Root Company, Nova Southeastern University, Space Coast Credit Union, S.R. Perrott, Volusia County Council PTA, Leadership Daytona Class 29, and the University of Central Florida.

In December, the Daytona Beach Young Professionals Group participated in the Young Professionals Global Impact Survey, facilitated by Next Generation Consulting, a Madison, WI-based consulting firm. The goal was to obtain numeric data regarding the impact of young professionals in the Daytona Beach and surrounding community.

The results show that our young professionals are educated (82% have a 4-year degree or higher), civic minded (94% voted in the last election,) and are giving back to the area (in the last 6 months, 75% made an average charitable donation of $670.)

Even more importantly, we learned that the young professionals in Daytona Beach have an economic impact in our community of $66,000 per person per year!

To learn more about Daytona Beach YPG, or to get more involved in the group, check out the website at http://www.daytonaypg.com/. If your company has interest in supporting an organization which is dedicated to retaining young professional talent in the Daytona Beach area, please call or email Glenn Ritchey, Jr. at (386) 547-3594 or gritcheyjr@jonhall.com.